The massive wings of Icarus spanned the entry way of the Contemporary Art Gallery for the recent Southeastern student juried art exhibition.

Slough in his studio with the plaque he is creating

for the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office to

memorialize Oneal Moore, the parish's first

African-American deputy who was killed in 1965.

The sculpture – titled Take Flight and made from aluminum, sycamore, copper, leather and nickel -- represents the Greek mythological character Icarus, the son of a master craftsman. At
Southeastern, it is a modern day student craftsman behind the domineering work of
art, and one who is now lending his talent and time to commemorate a fallen Louisiana hero.

"We have certain students at Southeastern who have exceptional skills and ideas," said Assistant Professor of Sculpture Jeff Mickey. "Zach is one of them."

Senior sculpture major Zachary Slough, a native of Wabash, Ind., moved to Louisiana
five years ago. The full-time student also works more than 30 hours a week at Ferrara
Fire Apparatus in Holden, a job that utilizes his abilities as a welder-fabricator.

"I really like to work with my hands. I like to build things," said Slough. "I tend
to getwrapped up in the minutia of things. I like the little details that take a long time
to do."

"Take Flight" took nearly 300 hours to complete. Now Slough's current artistic endeavor
also consumes his days and nights.

"The Deputy Chief of Police in Washington Parish, Olander Smith, contacted me about
aproject he was in charge of and asked if I knew someone suitable, -- either faculty
or astudent -- who would be willing to take on the work," Mickey said.

"As an alumnus of the school, I know the quality of work required by students, andSoutheastern was the first thing that came to mind when we began our journey," Smithsaid.

That journey involves construction of a memorial to seven fallen deputies in WashingtonParish, dating back to 1899, with a particular emphasis on a case that remains unsolved.

Smith explained that Oneal Moore was the first African-American deputy to serve with
the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Moore was murdered in Varnado in 1965. Two
suspects were arrested shortly after the murder, but no charges were ever filed. Smith
said the FBI has reopened the case three times since then. The prime suspect died
in 2003.

"Jeff approached me and asked if I'd be interested in accepting a commission to work
on the memorial and I said yes," said Slough. "For Oneal Moore to want to take those
kinds of risks and do that job in 1965 really speaks to his character. He must have
been a real stand-up guy."

As Slough began the drafting process, a new problem emerged.

"I only had one picture to work with," he said. "I didn't have a lot of wiggle room,
so I had to make it a certain way."

Instead of a full bust, the Moore memorial will be a bronze relief.

"The final, finished product will be a stand that comes out of the ground and then
slightlyrecesses into the wall." said Slough. "The relief will have his face, name, dates
of birth and death, and the background will be textured."

The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office is providing the funds for the materials.

Slough plans to attend the ceremony and meet Moore's family.

"My main objective is for Oneal Moore's wife to look at the relief and think it looks
like him," Slough said. "If that happens, then I'm going to be happy."

Mickey said he's watched Slough work intricately on this piece and build a connection.

"There has to be an emotional bond between you and the piece you're creating," saidMickey. "Zach is the kind of student who doesn't need a lot of intensive hand holding.
Hecomes to me when he has a problem, and I help mature his ideas."

"You have to fall in love with your work," said Slough. "If you really love something,
it'shard to fail at it."